Big, expensive, and stately, flagship luxury sedans represent the best an automaker has to offer, all in one vehicle. Or, if you're Mercedes-Benz, make that seven different vehicles all bearing the same name.Our sister publication Automobile Magazine got the inside scoop with intel saying that the next-gen Mercedes-Benz S-Class would be picking up slack for the now-defunct $450,000 Maybach. That means in addition to the standard- and long-wheelbase versions of the sedan currently in production, the S-Class will be picking up an extra-long-wheelbase model, a six-door Pullman limo to supplant the Maybach 62, a CL-replacing S-Class coupe and convertible, and a four-door "coupe" version.The S-Class will also boast a buffet of engines, from four-cylinders and small hybrids to a V-12 expected to make nearly 700 horsepower. And new technology like the inflatable seatbelts previewed earlier this month will undoubtedly make their way into the car. But we're pretty sure we've just seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new toys that will be featured in Mercedes-Benz's top-tier sedan.Meanwhile 146 miles down the road from Stuttgart in Ingolstadt, Germany, Audi isn't sitting on its hands, either. Its 2014 Audi A8 flagship sedan is expected to get a major facelift, making it look less aggressive, more handsome, and likely more in-line with Audi's other recent designs. Its engine options for the U.S.—a newly introduced supercharged V-6, a twin-turbocharged V-8, a W-12, and potentially a diesel and a hybrid powertrain—are expected to remain relatively unchanged, sans a few upgrades.But then in 2016, the Audi A8 will emerge all-new, based on a more modular platform that will be able to support the majority of vehicles in Audi's lineup, from the Audi A4 on up. It will pack features like e-quattro, an all-wheel-drive system with the wheels up front powered by the car's engine and the rear wheels implementing an electric motor. It will work similarly to Honda's next-generation super handling all-wheel drive, which was recently previewed on the Acura RLX concept in New York. The Audi A8 will likely take power from an assortment of gas, diesel, and hybrid powertrains.For more information about the upcoming cars, head over to Automobile's website to read the full report.Source: Automobile Magazine

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